The Joy of Co-Sleeping

 

I am a co-sleeping mama, and its (unexpectedly!) been one of my favourite things about becoming a mom. 

Before I became a mother, it wasn’t in my awareness that bedsharing was even an option. We started off with Ori in a bassinet on the side of our bed, but he ended up being in bed with me 99% of the time. It just felt intuitively right for me to have him close by in the crook of my arm…it made it so much more convenient for nursing (especially while recovering from a Cesarean), closeness and comfort. He’s not nursing anymore, but the snuggles and cuddles are next level. I wouldn’t want it any other way! 

I don’t get less, or interrupted sleep, contrary to what others may think. I lay with Ori for 15-20 minutes each evening after his bedtime ritual of ukulele song time and reading. He falls asleep next to me, but will sometimes shift into his own space. I will then leave to eat dinner, but return a few hours later to sleep myself. He sleeps rather deeply (thanks to the Aware parenting approach of supported release of stress and tension), and doesn’t wake easily when I return to bed. 

I doubted myself initially, since the topic of co-sleeping seems to have become taboo, with concerns and scares about creating bad habits and safety. I find this baffling since not only is there a wealth of information on how to do it safely, but co-sleeping is also an ancient practice (mothers have been sleeping next to their babies for thousands of years!), and commonly practiced in many cultures around the world. It also fosters a child’s need for closeness, comfort and safety, and a pretty awesome way to meet their needs for secure attachment. 

For more information, on safe co-sleeping check out the following:

Per The Save Sleep Seven:

Every situation is different. Life is never 100 percent safe. And everyone balances risk and benefits differently. Take the information we present and use your mother-wisdom to decide what’s best for you, your baby, and your family.

All those scary warnings are about only the first four months. Beyond that? Even the researchers behind the bedsharing cautions agree that by about four months bedsharing by any responsible, nonsmoking adult is as safe as having your baby sleep separately in a bassinet or crib. (11)

If you and your baby fit the Safe Sleep Seven criteria, your baby’s risk of SIDS is what one sleep researcher calls vanishingly small. And you’ll virtually eliminate overlying and other suffocation risks.

Co-sleeping may not be for everyone, but it works for us…and there’s nothing better than waking up in the morning with that beautiful face smiling sweetly at me—oxytocin galore! (Cue heart melt explosion.)

#snugglemuffinchronicles :)

If you have an inkling that this could work beautifully for you and your family, just know that it’s available to you, too.

Much love,
Lia

 
ParentingLia Wongbedsharing, baby sleep, infant sleep, cosleeping, attachment, secure attachment, james mckenna